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Schools of Recognition

Overview

Since 2003, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has recognized Title I schools that have demonstrated success in educating students. To be eligible, schools must receive federal Title I funding to provide services to large numbers or high percentages of economically disadvantaged children and meet other achievement criteria (see criteria below).
These awards recognize the work of students and their parents along with teachers, school administrators, and school staff members to break the link between poverty and low academic achievement. Their efforts help us ensure that every student graduates college and career ready.

2017-18 Schools of Recognition

The 2017-18 Schools of Recognition Ceremony will be held in May 2018. DPI will use results from the 2016-17 Forward Exam to determine the award recipients and will notify schools selected for this award in the winter prior to the ceremony.

Schools of Recognition Selection Criteria

Beginning in 2012-13, DPI expanded the Title I Rewards Program to include High Progress and High-Achieving Schools. This expansion represents Title I schools that will serve as a model for all schools across the state striving to meet our nation’s new accountability measures and Wisconsin’s goals to improve graduation rates and close college and career readiness gaps.

All Wisconsin Title I Schools of Recognition receive federal Title I aid because they have significant numbers of students from low-income families based on the National School Lunch Act income guidelines. Also, all schools must meet criteria including at least 95 percent test participation, a dropout rate of less than six percent, and an absenteeism rate of less than 13 percent.

Additional award criteria include:

High-Achieving Schools

have achievement gaps that are less than three (3) percentage points between student groups or show evidence of reducing gaps greater than three (3) percentage points and

demonstrate high achievement at the school level across content areas

High-Progress Schools

fall within the top 10 percent of schools experiencing student growth in reading and mathematics for elementary and middle school students or the top 10 percent of schools with the greatest improvement in high school graduation rates, and

have achievement gaps that are less than three (3) percentage points between student groups or show evidence of reducing gaps greater than three (3) percentage points